Dhaka: TeleTalk Bangladesh Limited, the state-run mobile phone operator, has signed an agreement with Nokia and Alcatel for expanding its network countrywide.

State Minister for Posts and Communications Tarana Halim came up with the information while talking to reporters after the signing ceremony at the Ministry on Wednesday.

Giasuddin Ahmed, managing director of TeleTalk and Nicolas Bouverot, Market unit Head of Asia South of Nokia and Roland Reynier, signed the agreement named ‘Modernisation and Expansion of Teletalk 2G/3G network up to rural area project’ on behalf of their respective sides at the Post and Telecommunications Department.

The agreement was signed for establishing the 1700 2G BTS (base transceiver station), 305 old 2G BTS and 1500 Node-B (3G BTS) and core networks at a cost of $18.4 m and $14.7 m, she said.

On completion of the project, the TeleTalk network will cover the rural areas of the country, said Tarana.

Earlier, the TeleTalk has signed an agreement with Huawei Technologies of China for developing its network.